The year 2004 may well be remembered as the year of Mixtapes making their way into the bhangra scene. Artists from the likes of Tigerstyle to Panjabi Hit Squad and Kami K have all been involved in pushing out Mixtapes for various ventures. However, if you look at what a Mixtape should actually be about, the end result of these attempts has been disappointing. A Mixtape is all about flow. Whereas a commercial release stems from thousands of hours of market research, and what record executives think will move units, Mixtapes are all about how well the DJ delivers the music. Well maybe this does not apply as much in the bhangra industry, but Mixtapes are traditionally the material the artists themselves listen to; it's a way all they can communicate with each other. In 2004, we saw Tigerstyle deliver Mixtapes with the tunes not being mixed into each - ideal for DJ's but that's not what Mixtapes are about. Then we've seen some lame attempts of mixing, for example, the DJ on Kami K's Mixtape.

So I was eagerly anticipating Mentor's Mixtape - especially when I discovered it was going to be mixed by an actual DJ - Mr Mak - in one take. Although released under the banner of the Mentor Kolektiv, the Mixtape seems to have been produced for two reasons. Firstly, to promote the live performances associated with the Kolektiv, and secondly to showcase Mentor's own outstanding production skills, with the aid of various other artists.

The Mixtape kicks off with the Kolektiv's debut hit Pasand. Punjabi vocals courtesy of Des-C and English rapping by A.C. Mentor lays down a real nice beat. This one's a tune - and it's no surprise it's been doing damage to dance floors up and down the country. Dec-C's voice is really raw, and with the right training he could certainly go on to achieve big things. A.C. is a rapper who can actually rap - none of this "minni minni mo" business.

An explosion, in true Mixtape fashion, signals the start of track 2, 'Put Ur Hands Up'. Blitzkrieg introduces himself, and there's no doubting the rapping talent of this guy. When is someone going to sign him? Mentor has again produced a fresh beat, this time with a Hindi influence. Don't think much of the chorus, but a top tune nonetheless.

The track is stopped and the tumbi that introduces the Mentor mix of "Cop That Sh!*" - entitled "Cop Dat Ishq" in dis clean version. Mr Mak adds some sonar effects and cutting and chopping in this one. Not heard much from him in the mixing side of things yet, but he seems to be warming up his fingers on this one. A nice tune again - most of you would have heard this a long time ago now.

Track 4 - and the first freestyle. A.C. drops some top notch rapping over a Neptunes beat. The track's just a verse, but there's most definitely potential there.

Another explosion sounds - is the DJ actually going to mix any of the tracks into each other? This time it's Jay Sean with one of the bonus tracks on his album - Who Is Kamaljit. This one still gives me jokes. Anyway y'all heard it all before. Top tune once more.

Another stop start mix, and A.C introduces the track by Blacksmith featuring Naila Boss. This is the Mentor mix and features Des-C. Another real decent track again. Think this is Naila's best work to date. The first real RnB number on the album.

Yana Yana sees a totally different flex. The track is mixed in well from the preceding track. It features Hakan and is a Turkish tune. What the hell are they talking about? Richard man - how the hell do you do these reviews? Veronica provides some Hindi based lyrics to my relief. Sure this one will appeal to many, but certainly not my thing.

The M.O.P. Cold as Ice tune comes in and Des-C lets loose with his first freestyle. He's singing his rendition of Sona Sona over this one.

The beat for Mentor Kolektiv's next tune Any Girl (Pardes Di Kuri) is mixed in well. The focus is more on A.C.'s rapping on this one. Another great tune - but very different to Pasand - which shows the versatility of the Kolektiv.

Another top mix into Craig David's 'World Filled With Love' comes in next. Obviously it's the hard to get Mentor Hindi Hip Hop mix, which never actually got the official release it deserved. Maybe it was just to do with the copyright issue. Fantastic tune yet again.

Noreaga's 'Nothin' beat is mixed in next. Although the mix is top drawer, the two tunes don't go too well together. So during the crossfade you got Craig singing over Nore's beat, which don't sound great to be honest. The beat signals Des-C's second freestyle - this time he's singing the Gurdas Mann classic Challa. He's not quite on that standard, but a nice attempt.

The track fades out - guess that's the end of Side A. Nitin Sawhney's Rainfall is the next track. Of course we got the Mentor mix again. Another real nice tune, but it's at this part that A.C.s voiceover introducing every track gets a bit annoying. But let's face it - that's the case with most hip-hop Mixtapes.

The 'Simon Says' beat gets the Des-C version of GT Road this time. Just think of the Simon Says beat with GT road lyrics over it - and there you go - that's all the track is.

The track fades out again - Mr Mak gone to sleep or something? Now, we've had Turkish, and now it's time for a Swahili track. The track's called Ngoma Inogire, and I haven't got the foggiest what it means. The Zig Zag Kru preforms it and I actually like it. Despite my previous qualm of not understanding the words, the beat just makes this track for me.

Smashing sounds arrive, and it's time for track 15 - the Kolektiv's third offering entitled Kaalja. This time Des-C exhibits his vocal ability by changing pace of his lyrics. At times it's almost as if he is rapping in Punjabi a la Sukshinder Shinda styl-ee. Another nice tune, but a bit basic lyrically.

Jua Kali features some top rappers. As A.C says it's a showcase. First we have the best of Canada in the form of Blitzkrieg. He lays down some top rhymes, with a great flow over Mentor's beat. Next we have the best of the UK, in my opinion, as Usmaan of the Sona Family. With his characteristic northern accent, he rips the beat apart. Finally, we get to hear Raxstar again. I didn't really rate his appearance on Juggy's album, but he certainly converts me here. Of course, he is still quite far behind the other two rappers on this one, both in terms of lyrics and flow, but nothing a bit of work couldn't remedy.

Mentor Kolektiv's final tune of the album kicks off with an A.C rap. The track is called Thoka, and is just like the usual Thoka lyrics. A nice enough beat as well, but I see this tune as their weakest on this album. Nothing special.

The flute from the ultimate Hindi bhangra crossover track 'Hum Tum' starts track 18. However, this one is the remix by Roach Killa, and is called 'Talkin.' With the ragga-influenced lyrics, they have totally changed the track. Don't really think much of this one, and reckon it's a bit overrated to be honest.

A funky beat comes in next as the last track fades out. Rowdy Brown is the rapper for this funky Hindi beat. This beat is totally different from anything that's been produced before - so big up to Mentor for that one. Rowdy Brown, who sounds remarkably similar to a popular Radio One DJ, provides a decent enough performance. However, with that East London accent, I wouldn't give up the day job - or should I say your 9pm show.

DJ Mr Mak wakes up for track 20 and provides some unbelievable scratching; over an old skool hip-hop beat.

The final track is a Des-C freestyle in the form of Bahri Kholkey lyrics over - as AC puts it - the beat of the year - Lean Back.

Overall, the Mixtape is definitely better than what we have been offered in the past. There are a huge variety of tracks. We got hip-hop, RnB, Bhangra and even groundbreaking attempts at Turkish and Swahili tracks. Des-C freestyles are very raw, and to be honest don't sound too great on the Mixtape. However, as I said in the intro, the Mixtape is a showcase for the Kolektiv's live shows, and I'm sure those freestyles over hip-hop beats would send crowds crazy. Mentor's unique, original production talent is here for all to appreciate. Bring on Volume 2 I say.